Citroen`s Sebastien Loeb avoided being crown World Rally champion for the second year in succession on Sunday as a mark of respect towards co-driver Michael Park who was killed on Stage 15 of Rally GB The Frenchman arrived two minutes late at the official finish, dropping him to third overall.
Loeb was in a position to wrap up the title after Peugeot officially withdrew the Frenchman`s main rival, Marcus Gronholm, from the event following today`s accident that cost the life of Markko Martin`s co-driver - Michael Park.

However, as a mark of repect, Loeb arrived two minutes late at the official finish in Cardiff at 15:00 CET, thereby dropping him from the lead to third overall and thus handing Subaru`s Petter Solberg a shallow fourth consecutive victory in Wales.

"I couldn`t even think about winning the title like that, not in these circumstances," Loeb said. "This is a sport. I compete to win, but not like that, and from the moment that Gronholm withdrew, there was no way that I was going to win.

"At Felindre (Service Park), it was not easy," he added. "It`s completely stupid - They should have stopped the rally there and then, Marcus (Gronholm) didn`t even pose the questions, he stopped. For me, it was the same.

The Frenchman went on to criticise Petter Solberg for accepting the victory. "I don`t care," Loeb said. "Everybody is free to do what they want, but by winning or not, that is certainly not important today."

PARK DIED INSTANTLY

The World Rally Championship is in mourning following the death of British co-driver Michael Park on Stage 15 of the Rally of Great Britain. Estonian driver Markko Martin lost control of his Peugeot 307 at high speed, hitting a tree on the passenger side.

"It is a drama for the team and for the rally world and, of course, for Michael`s family," Peugeot boss Jean-Pierre Nicolas later said. "Martin went off the road and hit a tree on Michael`s side, killing him instantly.

"It is hugely unfortunate, it is unfortunately part of the sport, there is always a risk, which is always high, but by passion you completely forget the risk," he added. "It is terrible, terrible for the guy who we loved in the team, terrible for his family.

"We will now consider the remainder of the season. The championship is nothing compared to this," he concluded.

BYE BYE `BEEF`

Nicknamed `Beef`, the 39-year old was renowned as one of Britain`s leading co-driver having worked with world champion Richard Burns and Colin McRae on their gravel notes, while also co-driving for multiple British Rally champion Mark Higgins.

He joined forces with Estonian Markko Martin in 2000 in a privateer Toyota Corolla before being picked up by Subaru for a works seat in 2001. Ford boss Malcolm Wilson took the duo on board from 2002 to 2004 before switching to Peugeot for the 2005 season.

Together they won five world championship rallies.

Park leaves behind a wife and two children. Eurosport sends its condolences to Park`s family and friends.



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